Your Right to Know

Dublin would take over the dispatching services for Hilliard and Norwich Township emergency
services under an agreement the three agencies are close to signing.

“There is an agreement in principle, but details have to be worked out,” said Lt. David Plesich,
who oversees operations for the 10-employee dispatch center in Hilliard.

Hilliard and Norwich Township have been working with Worthington and Upper Arlington to forge a
larger agreement. A draft of a feasibility study on joint dispatching recently was shared with
those communities.

Hilliard and Norwich Township thought the timing was right to move ahead, even without a
completed study, Plesich said.

More than half of Hilliard and township 911 calls — those made by wireless phones — already are
handled by Dublin’s call center.

“We’re confident that our citizens will see an improved level of services,” Plesich said.

The Hilliard-Norwich Township joint safety-services complex has eight full-time and two
part-time dispatchers whose jobs would be eliminated, saving more than $900,000, which includes
overtime and benefits, said Hilliard Police Chief Doug Francis.

“I feel for my employees. We are looking at a loss of jobs. It’s a very stressful time for
them."

Not having to pay for costly upgrades to computer and dispatching equipment will produce
long-term savings. Exact cost savings have not been determined.

Both the Hilliard and Dublin city councils must first approve the contract. Hilliard’s next
council meeting is Aug. 26.

Officials in Worthington and Upper Arlington said they were pleased that Hilliard and the
township are taking the step.

“It will become the model for how UA and Worthington will go forward. We will watch with great
interest, and it will become informative to us,” said Joe Valentino, Upper Arlington assistant city
manager. “I’d much rather be in system 3.2 than 3.0, to get the bugs worked out.”

Worthington Police Chief Jim Mosic agreed: “I think it gives the rest of us an opportunity to
observe and evaluate how the transition goes and learn from the process.”